History of 8ú Calafort

Bunaíodh an Bhuíon seo ar dtús chun an Ghaeilge agus an ghasógacht a nascadh le chéile. Ní fada gur fhás suim aos óig an cheantair sa bhuíon ghníomhach seo. Níorbh fhéidir daoine a dhiúltú de cheal líofachta na Gaeilge, agus de réir a chéile cuireadh níos mó béime ar thaobh na gasógachta de. Bhí sé de nós i gconaí áfach, agus tá fós, úsáid na Gaeilge a spreagadh nuair is féidir, m.sh. gnáth-chomhrá idir Gaelgeoirí, orduithe bád, na log-leabhair, agus úsáid Suaitheantas na Gaeilge. Le hurraíocht ó Gael Linn, tosaíodh comórtas bádóireachta bliantúil trí mheán na Gaeilge a mhaireann go fóill.

Although we have not managed to maintain our original aim of being a fully Irish speaking Sea Scout Troop, we continue to encourage the use of the language where possible e.g. for ordinary conversation between Gaelgeoirí, in boating orders, log-books, the use of Suaitheantas na Gaeilge, etc.

The beginning

In September 1966, a group of interested parents discussed the opening of an Irish-speaking Sea Scout troop with Eoghan Lavelle, Peter Tobin and Sean Fitzgerald. Within 2 weeks the first seven Scouts assembled and meetings and activities started. Peter and Sean were Watch Leaders (PLs) in the 5th Port of Dublin Sea Scouts (Dollymount).

The troop could not have survived without this help and we remain very grateful to Skipper Dick Vekins, whose death we mourned in January 1998, and to 5th Port for this essential early support. Later, Peter stayed on with the new troop, becoming ASL. The Troop was registered early in 1967 as -

• 39ú Ath Cliath (8ú Calafort Atha Cliath) Gasóga Mara, Baile na Manach
• 39th Dublin (8th Port of Dublin) Sea Scouts, Monkstown

The first Investiture took place in May. The membership was kept at 7 Scouts for the first year and then gradually expanded.